NFL Rumors: Playoff Seeding Rule Change Not Likely, Don't Want to Devalue Divisions

NFL owners are reportedly unlikely to approve the Detroit Lions' proposed rule change for playoff seedings to be determined by win-loss records, per Mike Garafolo and Judy Battista on NFL Network Wednesday (12:35 mark).

"I don't sense the momentum here for this one," Garafolo said. "I know a lot of folks that like the spirit of the idea from the Lions...but I don't think there's enough support right now for this one. Is this something that we can continue to discuss down the line and maybe get it someday? Perhaps. I just don't think we're there yet."

The No. 1 seed in each conference would still be the division winner with the best record. However, the next six teams would be ranked on win-loss record, regardless of whether they won the division or not.

The Lions' proposal may have been in reaction to a stacked 2024 NFC North division, in which Detroit and the Minnesota Vikings were both 14-2 going into their final game against each other to close the league's regular season.

And Battista had much to say on the topic:

"I would be shocked if this passed. I've covered the NFL for 25 years, and every few years, this pops up, and the answer is the same. They do not want to devalue winning the division, because that would devalue division games. And that devalues the rivalries that are within divisions. They don't want to do that for obvious reasons. They like that competitiveness within the division, and they feel that taking away a home game then penalizes you, doesn't give you the reward for winning the division that you deserve a reward for winning the division.

"Their response to all of this is if you want to host a home game, go win the division. Don't worry about your record. Go win your division. That's the answer it's always been. I would be surprised if you could get 24 owners to vote to change this. This has been a long-held feeling in the NFL among owners. [New York Giants owner John Mara], as you mentioned, is certainly one of them. But there are many, many owners who feel the reward for winning a division is to host a home game. You do not want to give away those home games. That's a reward and you deserve it."

The Lions won 31-9 and became the North champion and No. 1 seed, while the Vikings finished as the No. 5 seed and hit the road for the NFC Wild Card round despite a stellar 14-3 record, tied for second-best in the conference.

Last year's NFC seedings were as follows: No. 1 Lions (15-2), No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3, NFC East champs), No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7, NFC South champs), No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (10-7, NFC West champs), No. 5 Vikings (14-3), No. 6 Washington Commanders (12-5), No. 7 Green Bay Packers (11-6).

Under the proposal, the seedings would have been: No. 1 Lions (15-2), No. 2 Eagles (14-3), No. 3 Vikings (14-3), No. 4 Commanders (12-5), No. 5 Packers (11-6), No. 6 Buccaneers (10-7), No. 7 Rams (10-7).

That would have marked a dramatic difference, giving Minnesota and Washington home games.

That all being said, it doesn't look likely. ESPN's Kevin Seifert provided more insight on the matter.

"The Los Angeles Chargers made a similar proposal in 2023, but it did not receive much support," Seifert wrote.

"Any NFL team can make a rule change proposal for consideration by owners. The proposals require at least 24 votes to be approved, but owners are generally more likely to approve proposals that are endorsed by the competition committee rather than individual teams."

So it doesn't appear this rule change has the momentum to get passed, but we'll find out soon enough officially, when NFL owners meet from March 30-April 2 in West Palm Beach, Florida.